Daily Bits and Bobs

Steve Bould has his red army firing….

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

As the roars of Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal were in full swing, Theo Walcott had just made sure he was heading home with the match ball.

‘Steve Bould’s red army’ followed as Arsenal fans making the trip to the south coast, enjoyed having watched their team rip Southampton to shreds with a kind of performance that’s been long overdue.

For once watching this team play was a joy, and while we may have left it too late for Arsenal’s title odds to change, a strong run in the second half of the season and a 2nd place finish (plus Champions League progress) will do the team a lot of good and help attract the players the manager wants to bring in.

I thought our midfield would struggle with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Maitland-Niles and Jeff in there but I was very wrong. The Ox was at the heart of everything good as the boys pushed forward. Some seriously good passes were finding our front men time and time again. Who said playing the long ball doesn’t look good? Lol

Southampton played an under strength side and much will be made of that in the media but so did Arsenal and let’s not forget that. Ten changes were made by both managers but our ten were clearly much better and let’s be honest, apart from the two youngsters, most are all seasoned international players.

No Cech, Ozil, Ollie, Monreal, Koscielny, Elneny, Xhaka, Coquelin, Ramsey yet that team clicked as one and really did turn on the style. Alexis didn’t want to miss out and on he came from the bench to join the party and play a big part in Walcott’s hat-trick. Having already assisted with Theo’s with second, the Chilean was in possession of the ball near the box with two defenders close by and he waited and waited as the Englishman raced 50 odd yards up the pitch to help him out. The perfect ball followed by the perfect finish to make it 5-0.

Welbeck with two, Walcott with three and all were classy. Ok, they were good, any goal is good. Choosing the best of the evening is tough but the first was smart. Quick passing finished with a lovely chip over the keeper from Welbeck.

As said, the performance was good but even better was seeing Welbeck back and scoring, Walcott back fit and scoring, Perez looking really lively and Oxlade-Chamberlain putting in the kind of performance which we’ve all be waiting for. The team were at it from the off, focused and ready, unlike so many times before this season.

And I bet Arsene Wenger enjoyed every minute of it as he watched on from the directors box….

Perhaps he should stay there and he will do for three more matches, the next being on Tuesday against Watford when a similar performance wouldn’t go amiss…

Have a great Sunday guys….

rico

149 thoughts on “Steve Bould has his red army firing….”

  1. Joaquim Moreira says:

    morning all!
    Southampton had played with the subs and it’s a big difference between the subs anfd the normal team.
    Anyway, a very good performance for Arsenal.

  2. ScottfromOz says:

    JM, we also played with a heap of subs.
    Don’t downplay what was a very good performance.
    Some brilliantly executed goals.
    Let’s hope that kickstarts us.
    Morning all.

  3. rico says:

    Agree Jm, our ‘second’ eleven was much better than theirs and understandably as said in the post, most are or have been first team players….

  5. potter says:

    The draw now is all important, there is a mix of big and little teams , hopefully a kind one with some bigger ones drawn together and the whole thing might open up.

  10. andrewh1313 says:

    Morning. Great result, and as I very much doubt we are moving in the TW, the returns of Welbeck and Walcott and re-emergence of others like Ox is exciting. Watched with a very poor picture ;( so will catch MOTD to see again. Didn’t expect a convincing win, so proud of the team.

  11. Marshall says:

    About the game. What an immense player Perez is! His assist for the first Welbeck’s sublime finish was a peach. We really have to start playing with him. As Obi pointed out in the previous game.

    The guys out there played some good football. Welbeck has energy for days. The constant movement of Theo, Perez and Welbeck unsettled the poor saints.

    Credit to Ox for proving me wrong. He was magnificent! Gave a display which Scott would wish it came from Ramsey 🙂

  12. Wavy says:

    We beat them. We invariably beat weak or inadequate teams. Yes, we did play well, largely because the opposition just weren’t up to it! We,were impressive, the Ox outstanding, the goals, really well constructed. A jolly good watch, but like Potter I don’t like it when my heart goes into erratic palpitations when we are struggling to get a grip! So that was nice. A very calm 94 minutes!
    A display as good as that against the chavs next week would be really satisfying and or more of the same against Watford. I think my cup will be runnething over!
    Had a good night’s sleep too. Win, win!

    Morning all. Lovely day today albeit not very warm, yet.

  14. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, they made 10 changes, as did we.
    I think It’s fair to compare as we are both League teams……we do compare ourselves to Citeh and Chelski, after all, and they spend a hell of a lot more on players than we do.
    Marshall, Rambo would have meant 7-0 lol.

  15. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. A very pleasing performance yesterday evening against an admittedly weakened Southampton. Who cares though? It was a chance for the fringe players to show their worth and they did. I saw some good stuff though they won’t get that amount of time and space when normal battle resumes. Brilliant to see Danny back too.

  16. rico says:

    Very true Scott. To be fair, I don’t care. It was a great game by us and as we always say, you can only play what’s in front of you….

  23. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Wellbeck has to be managed with “tweezers”.
    I liked Adelaide. It’s pity to be physically fragile.
    I remain apprehensive with the right side of the defense because in my opinion. Bellerin is in worse shape than at the beginning of the season. And there is no substitute that gives the same guarantees to defend and attack.

  28. Alex says:

    Good afternoon Rico and all…..

    How wrong we where about the Ox………of boy …..

    We where rigthly suspicious about his defence side but on yesterday evidence i think with good coaching can rectify that .

    I dont read to much into this Theo goals as they where simple tapping credit goes to both Lucas and Sanchez.

  31. rico says:

    Afternoon Alex.

    Theo’s first goal showed determination to beat the defender, his second two might have looked a tap in to you but I thought they were both taken well.

    We’ve seen ‘tap ins’ like those go high or wide in other matches this season.

    Still, I guess he can’t please everyone despite getting three goals…

  32. Alex says:

    I have seen him an entire decade and no….sorry not for me.

    My point is and always had very top, top assistant around him all the time hence look like footbaler. He dont have football brain.

    He is a sprinter .

  33. Wavy says:

    The difficult thing for Theo was being in the right place at the right time, and he was! And he scored, three times. What is a striker expected to do? I think we all expect him to score goals. Who at more can anybody ask for? Not to mention some of the runs he made, often opening up space for others to run into. He had a very good game, all round!

  35. rico says:

    Each to their own Alex..

    Agree Wavy. Sometimes it seems certain players will always be criticised regards of how they’ve played…

  36. Le Coq Monster says:

    Afternoon and thanks Rico.

    I`ve always liked the OX and we have to keep with him, actually there`s not many Arsenal players I dont rate !…………..I know I`ll list them…………………….

    First let me say I like these guys but I think we could do better………….

    1) Sanogo
    2) Merts…..love him but think he should just be our coach or something, he loves Arsenal !
    3) Monreal
    4) Gibbs
    Monreal and Gibbs are OK, but OK is not good enough, I watch other LB`s and they seem to be more dynamic !

    That`s it…..not many ! 🙂

    Just did 6 mile run in wind and rain…..and those effing hills !………………..chilled to the bone, but feel good in the warm now ! 🙂

    Not sure if I`ve invented something, but it beats the original for me…………………Cream Tea ( Cornish style……jam on first )……………I had a few mis-shaped scones from work ( they are enormous compared to them silly little ones you get in Tesco`s ) but had no Clotted cream, so I had an idea 💡 warm up scones, put jam on then………………………clotted cornish ice cream on top….ice cream !……………….why didn`t I think of it before ?……………mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm 🙂

  38. Alex says:

    Sporadic show off is all i am saying But when someone reads the entire decade Sanogo is 100% better.At least from what little that we see on him.

  40. Alex says:

    Lets see him on one year run (not ten years )….just one year and see what happen.

    I am completely writing off Feo after 10 long years of completely utter rubbish.

    As per Sanogo my defence he only played a handful times and there is no enough material to completely writing him off.

  41. Le Coq Monster says:

    It was Sanogo`s birthday on Friday……24 !…………not exactly a youth player anymore !…………………even if he was a decent player which I doubt very much, he`s Diaby Mark2…………..injury prone !…………

  42. Alex says:

    Injury prone….correct………..
    24 year ….not young …..correct

    Diaby mark 2 …….so far yes

    Still we do not see him running and playing fully to malign him while the likes of Feo is considered okaysh is okay after 10 long years and earning huge salary.

  44. Wavy says:

    I think we got the general idea of just how good Sanogo was from his brief appearances in an arsenal shirt. Wasn’t he loaned out to Palace or somewhere, I don’t remember him getting his pick there either, and he wasn’t perpetually unfit, un like the old Abou!
    He may well have been an outstanding schoolboy en francais, but he has grown into an unco-ordinated adult and consequently a rather crap footballer who is earning per week what an sbove average teacher, of the same age earns in a year, a lot more. Now, where’s the justice in that?

  45. Kel says:

    Sanogoals reminds me of a newborn fold.. ?

    After yesterday you would think the Ox should now get the nod over Ramsey?

    Watching the Celtic game atm this kid Tierney is a very good left back imo.

    Nice post Rico..

  46. rico says:

    Thanks Kel..

    Adam, I bet he is, just like me.. 🙂

    We all love a world class player who doesn’t even get selected for the under 23’s…. 😉

  47. Obi says:

    Hello All:
    No matter how you slice it, you can only play and beat who is in front of you. Before the game all of us knew both sides will play a weaken side and some were even worried about the midfield been short. To be frank, no one expected such an emphatic win with flair…damn if they do damn if they don’t.

    Wavy @ 12:55, that was an excellent post. Especially re Theo’s inability to get to the right spot. Yesterday I was most impress with the sprint from 50 yards because he went wide enough but not too wide to negate the defenders and also gave himself an angle at goal. His movement was excellent yesterday, sometime is not just coaching but when you practice with and observe better players in close proximity, you also get better.

    Now on Sonogo, since am the self appointed agent…LC lol. It could be that the boy peeked too early, but Alex is right why doesn’t he deserve a chance just like the rest. He has played just a handful of games, and has been hampered by injuries. At Palace his manager was Padew, really? Like he wants to develop an Arsenal player, sure just like Pulis wanted to develop Gnabry. Given is youth prowess lets at least give him a run of games, cups, friendlies, FA, etc., then judge.

  48. Wavy says:

    I think the judge may already have picked up his black cap!
    I suspect if Wenger won’t pick Perez in the starting 11, I don’t think Sanogo has the remotest chance of even sitting on an Emirates,bench. Sorry to be the bringer of bad and sad news!

  50. Le Coq Monster says:

    He must be injured !………………..otherwise surely he would be getting a run out in the U23`s ( as an over age player)………or would he ?………………Nketiah…Maviddi….Akpom….and others ?……would all be in front of him ?………………I`m sorry Obi, as his agent I dont think you`re going to make a mint from him……………………………It`S a no go from me ! 🙂

    Sutton at home for me in the 5th round and I`ll be up to the frozen north ! . 🙂

  58. micko says:

    Alex 5.19, it’s Wenger’s mental well health being I’m more worried about lol.

    As for Yaya, he’s in the same league as Chamakh, couldn’t score in a bed of fannies !

    rico, I quite fancy Man U in the next round, isn’t Old Trafford the only ground in the country where the off side ruled has been banned, I can see us spanking them 10-8 !!!

  59. micko says:

    Gotta luv Michael Van Gerwen, probably the best player in the world but is it me or does it look like he’s always got a gob full of marbles in his mouth lol !

  61. micko says:

    Scott, if I didn’t know better I’d think I was being lured into a booby trap lol !
    I’d love us to get drawn away to the eye gougers best 11 tomorrow evening, we could and should have created history in the FA Cup last season but fcuked it up, time to right a few wrongs.

    Nite Gooners.

  62. ScottfromOz says:

    No booby trap mate.
    3 in a row would have and should have been superb but 3 in 4 won’t be too shabby.

  63. allezkev says:

    Chatting to Adam on the phone (hands free) when some idiot decided to execute a left turn from the outside lane of the A13 and nearly wiped me out on the inside lane. How some of these fuckers get driving licenses is a mystery to me….

    Sanogo has been a total failure wherever he’s played since he left France, not just at Arsenal.
    There’s more chance of Scott getting a game up front than Yaya the Unready…

    Pleased for Maitland-Niles and Reine-Adelaide, although we must take into consideration the quality of the opposition, we have to be encouraged by their performances at St Mary’s…

    And Oxlade-Chamberlain, the new Santiago Cazorla perhaps?
    Maybe he’s found his niche in the team?

    Saw brief highlights of Sutton vs Leeds and was very impressed by old Arsenal academy scholar, Rory Deacon, I always liked the kid and thought that he was allowed to leave too soon.
    Won’t be long before a Football League club or few are knocking on the Sutton door with an offer for his services…

    Now, how about an away trip to Millwall in the 5th Round..?
    Chelsea vs Spuds, City vs Utd would be good…

  66. Marshall says:

    Morning all.
    I remember reading the coaches at Ajax – one of the best places to develop a player- saying Sanogo was hopeless (my interpretation). He’s nicking a living.

    I hope Elneny’s injury is not too serious.

    I’d prefer an away trip to Millwall than Wolves.

  68. potter says:

    5 of the top 6 still in it . The hot and cold balls will be out in force, TV is suffering , they will want a couple of blockbusters to get the ratings up and the F.A will let them to keep the money coming in.

  69. Kel says:

    Didn’t the Ox play centrally a few seasons ago when Scott witnessed the 6-0 against Chelsea…

    Hopefully his tactical awareness has improved. I say Play him again against Watford and see how he goes.

  71. Le Coq Monster says:

    Morning all.

    Cant see the Coq` rumour anywhere on newsnow Rico !………………….have you been reading the tea leaves ? 🙂

  74. rico says:

    In the Star, him, Ozil and Ramsey injured LC? It’s probably rubbish but Wenger did say he has to check on a few players before tomorrow

  78. Le Coq Monster says:

    Draw is @ 19:00 tonght.

    Ball Numbers.

    1) Tottenham Hotspur

    2) Derby County or Leicester City

    3) Oxford United

    4) Sutton United

    5) Wolverhampton Wanderers

    6) Arsenal

    7) Lincoln City

    8) Chelsea

    9) Manchester United

    10) Millwall

    11) Huddersfield Town

    12) Burnley

    13) Blackburn Rovers

    14) Fulham

    15) Middlesbrough

    16) Manchester City

  80. Le Coq Monster says:

    So give or take a %………..we have a 50% chance of being drawn at home…………………and a 50% chance of drawing an EPL team !………………………………….a 50% chance of being drawn away and a 50% chance of drawing a team below the EPL !……………………………and before any game starts we have a third of a chance of winning…….a third of a chance of losing……….and a third of a chance of drawing !…………………and after reading that we probably know why people dont like Monday`s !

    😆

  84. Le Coq Monster says:

    If it happens Rico what you going to hope for ………………………………..An Oxford win or a life of Hell ?…………………………no brainer for me, I`ve already ordered you a pair of asbestos knickers ! 😀

  86. Le Coq Monster says:

    Exactly what I expected from a true Gooner, Rico !………………although some would say that we have been in hell since The Invincibles and arrival of Kroenke………………mind you though, some will have been in heaven with our horde of 4th place trophies and annual beano`s over to mainland europe !.
    🙂

  88. Le Coq Monster says:

    Morning (here) Scott !……………………have you still got weather hotter than hell ?……………………and do you own a pair of Asbestos Budgie Smugglers ? 🙂

  90. Le Coq Monster says:

    If Kroenke was sunbathing on a golden Aussie beach, Scott !……………………would a `roo come along and punch him in the face and steal his syrup thinking Kroenke had been baby `rooknapping ?…………..even though it looks like a Beaver ! hahaha

  91. Le Coq Monster says:

    Just watched Arsenal U18`s beat Reading on `player…………………..Malen`s goal was brilliant !…………he started and finished it !

  94. tsgh says:

    Kel- I was in the Chelsea home section next to ‘a distinguished chav season ticket holder’ 😉 when at half time with us being 4-0 down I decided to make my way quietly out to Fulham Broadway Tube station before I got my head kicked in.
    Ox was hopeless that day and he hasn’t convinced me ever since…

    Ox imho as a CM is a pipe dream. Then again Graeme souness said that Ox was the reason why we beat Milan at home in the ucl a few years back.; contrary to AW saying he was sort of bodies due to injuries and so he thought he would just let OX sit infront of the back 4 for 45 minutes. Song of course did all the chasing that evening but he wasn’t an England prospect and so…

  97. Le Coq Monster says:

    Arsene seems to think Ox will eventually be central !………………………I`d like to throw in a curve ball and say we should play Sanogo next to him for protection ! 😆

    After an outstanding display in central midfield against Southampton at the weekend, Arsene Wenger says he believes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s future will probably see him play more often in that role.

    It’s not the first time the Frenchman has suggested this, but at 23 perhaps now he’s mature enough for the manager to have the confidence to play him there more more frequently.

    Speaking at his press conference today, he said, “I think he’s a good flank player and good central player but the future, personally I would say, is more central than on the flank for him.

    “When you’re young you want to get in team, I push you a bit more wide. Why? Because central demands more experience, more planning, tactical planning and on the flanks you can be a bit more instinctive.

    “But naturally he’s a guy I think is comfortable to be always involved in the game.

    “And when I look back at all the games he’s played central, many of them he has done very well.”

  98. tsgh says:

    Scott- someone experienced. but we do not have that in our current squad. Maybe a clone of PV04. lol

    On a serious note maybe a Fernardihno

  100. tsgh says:

    Scott – A few weeks back someone asked me to help him sort out some data going into an article for w3w analysing the future of french midfield vs past midfield and I looked back at some of France’s games with Pv04 minus Makalele; i.e when PV04 played with Olivier Dacourt.

    One would say Makalele was far superior to Dacourt but that was not true until the ‘eye-poker’ nominated him his most important player in the chav squad.

    In fact when RM sold Claude in 2003, Perez dismissed Zozou’s comments as just a man complaining because Claude was French…

    Even the great PV04 appreciated the need for midfielders to compliment each other

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/patrick-vieira-exclusive-claude-makelele-727637

    I personally think if AW had bought a younger Arteta or Alonso in the squad Ramsey will be even more important than he was in 2014 for us…

  103. tsgh says:

    Scott- AW should have bought Pjanic last summer.
    Xhaka should have been the season before imho. Xhaka needed at least half a season with Arteta next to him; I look forward to him and Santi together though…

  106. Obi says:

    TS you are absolutely right with Xhaka next to Arteta, and I think Santi will help him even more. With the Ox I will pair him with Claudio Marchisio, Aranguiz, Vidal or Elneny.
    Interestingly look at how Casemiro has solidify Real midfield and has allowed even Kross the freedom to be a better players maker.
    re PV04, he gets a lot of accolades and deservinlgy so but he was always complimented. French and at Arsenal without Makelele or Gilberto he would’ve been exposed, even at Juve Emerson was the key, at Inter Dacourt, at City de Jong, Yaya and Milner.

  107. allezkev says:

    Afternoon All

    Afternoon Rico, glad that I’m still here, Scott, having seen you perform on the table tennis table, I’d really be interested to see you, with the Giroud haircut and beard, leading the line, alongside Alexis and Theo….

    VCC, yes mate it would be difficult, but it would be a lot of fun…
    And I’d probably go, if possible…

  108. allezkev says:

    Rico, I’ve checked and can only find Cazorla still out injured, so I don’t know where all those rumours of Coq/Ramsey being injured came from…

    Wenger rested them at St Marys so some lazy journo has, it seems, indulged in some fake news – luv that term, fake news, short and to the point…

  112. rico says:

    Afternoon Kev. I read about your near miss, must have worried you to say the least…

    Clearly The Star just printing more bollox about Coquelin then, good.

  114. allezkev says:

    Rico, there are some absolute planks on the road more than I can ever remember, a lot of them ‘drive’ for Uber and spend most of their time staring at their satnav rather than on the road…
    That’s what you get when you license a shed load of fcuking idiots who have no idea where they’re going…
    Well done TfL…

    I’ve gotta get myself a dashcam because it’s getting worse and there are some appalling ‘drivers’ out there…

    Akpom will do, or should do, really well at Brighton, who could be in the EPL next season, so are a quality team…

    Looks like Debuchy and Jenkinson are staying?

  115. rico says:

    We’ve just bought one Kev having had a couple of close encounters. The drivers in the countryside are nearly as bad as in London. Too many yummy mummy’s in big 4×4’s who don’t know how to drive them… Idiots..

    Agree re Akpom, just hope Brighton play him otherwise it’s a pointless move..

    I reckon both Debuchy and Jenks will be gone by tomorrow night, certainly Jenks… Looks like Wenger has given up on him..

  116. Le Coq Monster says:

    Have to agree there Rico……………………country lanes are the worst !………my wife has been involved in 3 write off`s, each not her fault and two of them she was stationary !
    Not only driving !………………..as I do a lot of running around the lanes, I have on numerous occasions nearly been run over and then there`s the dogs that owners do not keep under control and have been attacked also on numerous occasions ( Golden Retrievers are the worst….fcuking evil bastards under that cute looking exterior )………..keep the fcukers on a lead !……………..I really should by a Groincam for the front when running and an Arsecam for the rear !…………….I could then put up footage on here ! hahaha

  118. Le Coq Monster says:

    Probably not Rico !……………luckily enough I can reply to you as I`m doing one finger push ups and can use the other fingers to type ! hahahaha…………………just kidding ! 🙂

  123. Le Coq Monster says:

    Right !, so he`s earmarked for the summer then !…………..he can replace Merts on the bench ! 🙂

  124. allezkev says:

    I am currently benchpressing 500kg using only my thumbs…

    Once I’ve done 50 reps, I’m off on a 25k run and will finish by swimming the channel…

    Just another lazy day I guess..,

  125. allezkev says:

    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    I am currently benchpressing 500kg using only my thumbs…

    Once I’ve done 50 reps, I’m off on a 25k run and will finish by swimming the channel…

    Just another lazy day I guess..,

  128. Le Coq Monster says:

    Surprised you`ve got time for it Kev after spending all day in London wrestling Uber drivers !………………fit fcuker you is ! 🙂

  138. allezkev says:

    Oh dear, we’re in for weeks of the ‘romance of the FACup’ zzzzzzz….

    Cocker, you would be impressed by my six pack… ?

  141. potter says:

    3 G pitch ,hope we get a chance to train on one , I wonder if we have one at London Colney , I think we used to have one behind the clock end at Highbury but I think all the pitches are now a copy of the stadium at Ashburton Grove. We should be able to pass them to death.

  143. allezkev says:

    Leeds tried a passing game, they had more possession, but Sutton went long and got crosses into the box, not just long ball, more a case of knocking it long when it was on…

    Deacon and Eastmond will be up for it…

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